Focus on D Spurs Recent Run

When Katie Burt was honored as Hockey East's goaltender of the month for October earlier this week, it was as much of a recognition of the Eagles' defensive success so far this season as Burt's individual accomplishments.

But the month didn't start the same way it ended.

BC closed October with a team goals against average of 1.10 to rank second nationally, but after two weekends of play, that stat was more than twice as high. Through four games, the Eagles' defense allowed 10 goals – one, two, four and three, successively, in the four season-opening contests.

That's all changed, however, in the last four games: Burt and the BC defense has surrendered just one goal while posting five shutouts.

It's the best defensive stretch in school history, topping a one-goal-in-five-games stretch in 2014-15.

For the Eagles' coaching staff, it's been the result of the team's concentration on the details.

The recent success could be looked at as a return to the team's norm – last year, BC was fourth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 1.21 goals per game. Burt led the nation with a 1.11 GAA and posted 10 shutouts tying the school's single-season record.

After the first two weekends of play and 10 goals against, there was a focus put on defense and that focus hasn't wavered since.

"(Associate head coach) Courtney (Kennedy) has been doing a lot of work with our defense and our D-Zone play, and really trying to clean that area up," head coach Katie Crowley said. "And with the goalies, as well. We had meetings with them. Making sure you clean up that D-Zone is huge, especially after you get further on in the season. That'll continue to be a focus point."

Staying clean in their own end. Being smart in the neutral zone. Doing the little things. It's added up. The team's five shutouts in the last six games demonstrates that a commitment to D goes a long way.

"We really try to work on our position, and small techniques and skills," Kennedy said. "A lot of those things aren't fully stressed during the players' high school careers because they don't have opportunities to address those skills at a high level. We do a lot of work on the opposite side, as well: players off the puck and how they play the game. It's not that exciting at times, but in the end, it makes a better defenseman."

The defense and goaltenders have been keyed in of late. And with four games in an eight-day stretch coming up, the Eagles' commitment to defense will go a long way.

"We've talked with our goaltenders and focused on our D-zone, tightening it up and taking away teams' second chances," Crowley said. "Our kids have done a good job of that the last few games. Defense is something we certainly take pride in, and every game we have to come back and re-focus. Our kids have been doing a great job of that."

Players Mentioned

Katie Burt

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